IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,540,793
Granted Patent B2
US 12,540,793 · App. 18/139,251 · Granted Feb 3, 2026

Imaging enabler for a viewing optic

Inventors: Calen Havens (Barneveld, WI); William Lowry (Barneveld, WI); Sam Hamilton (Barneveld, WI); Ian Klemm (Barneveld, WI); Tom Cody (Barneveld, WI); Garrison Bollig (Barneveld, WI); Andy Carlson (Barneveld, WI); Cory Taylor (Barneveld, WI); Tim Rue (Barneveld, WI); Tony Palzkill (Barneveld, WI); Keegan Jauch (Barneveld, WI); Zach Sausen (Barneveld, WI); Alexander Lewis (Barneveld, WI)
Assignee: Sheltered Wings, Inc.
F41G1/38F41G1/36
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,540,793
App. No.
18/139,251
Granted
Feb 3, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure relates to a viewing optic. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic with an active display and an enabler interface. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a system comprising a viewing optic with an active display and an imaging device.

Claims (19)

1 . A system comprising:

a viewing optic having a body with a first end and a second end and having a center axis; an objective lens system disposed within the body; an eyepiece lens disposed within the body; an erector lens system disposed within the body; the objective lens system, eyepiece lens, and erector lens system forming an optical system having a first focal plane, the first focal plane located between the objective lens system and the erector lens system and having a first reticle; an active display configured to generate a digital image; and at least a first enabler interface; and

an imaging device configured to communicate information to the active display, wherein said information is projected into the first focal plane of the viewing optic, the imaging device having a main housing with an objective lens and an attachment arm, the attachment arm having a first portion coupled adjacent the objective lens of the main housing and extending away from the imaging device, and a second portion that extends over the viewing optic, the second portion having a bottom surface configured to interact with the first enabler interface.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first enabler interface is located forward of an etched reticle elevation adjustment knob of the viewing optic.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the imaging device is a long wave infrared (LWIR) thermal imager.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the main housing of the imaging device is located to the left or right of the center axis of the viewing optic.

5 . A system comprising:

a viewing optic having a body with a first end and a second end and having a center axis; an objective lens system disposed within the body; an eyepiece lens disposed within the body; an erector lens system disposed within the body; the objective lens system, eyepiece lens, and erector lens system forming an optical system having a first focal plane, the first focal plane located between the objective lens system and the erector lens system and having a first reticle; an active display configured to generate a digital image; and at least a first enabler interface;

an objective display module coupled to the objective lens system of the viewing optic; and

an imaging device configured to communicate information to the objective display module, wherein said information is projected into the objective lens system of the viewing optic, the imaging device having a main housing with an objective lens and an attachment arm, the attachment arm having a first portion coupled adjacent the objective lens of the main housing and extending away from the imaging device, and a second portion that extends over the viewing optic, the second portion having a bottom surface that interacts with the first enabler interface.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the first enabler interface is located forward of an etched reticle elevation adjustment knob of the viewing optic.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the imaging device is a near infrared (NIR) imager or a short wave infrared (SWIR) imager, or a mid-wave infrared (MWIR), or a long wave infrared imager.

8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the imaging device is a long wave infrared imager.

9 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the main housing of the imaging device is located to the left or right of the center axis of the viewing optic.

10 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the objective display module comprises a second active display configured to communicate with the imaging device.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the objective display module comprise a set of lenses to collect light from the second active display.

12 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the objective display module has pogo pins configured to interact with a pogo pin target header on the imaging device.

13 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the imaging device is a dual imager having a first imager and a second imager.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the first imager is a thermal imager and the second imager is a CMOS near infrared imager or a short wave infrared imager.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 9, 2023
From: HAVENS, CALEN; LOWRY, WILLIAM; HAMILTON, SAM; KLEMM, IAN; CODY, TOM; BOLLIG, GARRISON; CARLSON, ANDY; TAYLOR, CORY; RUE, TIM; PALZKILL, TONY; JAUCH, KEEGAN; SAUSEN, ZACH; LEWIS, ALEXANDER
To: SHELTERED WINGS, INC. D/B/A VORTEX OPTICS
Reel/Frame 063903/0324 →
Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 63363591 · Apr 26, 2022
Provisional Application 63363560 · Apr 25, 2022
Related Publication 20240102773A1 · Mar 28, 2024
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